Whatever your plans were this weekend, cancel them and make sure you’re tuned into the final round of Champions Cup pool matches as a host of Guinness PRO14 clubs look to book their places in the quarter-finals. No fewer than five clubs are set to secure berths in the knockout stage of the competition depending on the weekend’s results. But there’s still plenty of jostling for places to come and no side wants to miss out on the chance to entertain their home fans in the last eight. Edinburgh Rugby v Montpellier (Friday January 18 19:45, BT Murrayfield) Edinburgh have the chance to secure top spot in Pool 5 and claim a home quarter-final if they can get the better of French stalwarts Montpellier at BT Murrayfield. Richard Cockerill’s side sit three points clear of Friday’s opponents and just need to avoid defeat to book their place in the next round. But Montpellier are certainly no pushovers as seen in the side’s last meeting where the Top 14 outfit secured a 21-15 victory in spite of a late rally from Edinburgh. Edinburgh and rivals Glasgow Warriors can make history if they succeed in advancing into the next round as the first time that two Scottish sides have made the Champions Cup quarter-finals. Saracens v Glasgow Warriors (Saturday January 19 13:00, Allianz Park) Top spot is up for grabs in Pool 3 despite Saracens being the only team to ensure their progression into the next round. The Premiership Rugby men have won all their five matches in the competition so far this season – including beating the Warriors 13-3 at Scotstoun in October. But Glasgow has the chance to put a dint in Saracens’ perfect European start as they attempt to make history alongside Edinburgh. Cardiff Blues v Lyon (Saturday January 19 13:00, Cardiff Arms Park) The Blues’ European adventure comes to a close this weekend with John Mulvihill’s men bowing out the competition before the last eight. Pride will be on the line for both sides with neither wishing to end their Champions Cup journeys in defeat. Lyon are yet to notch up a victory in the competition but pushed Saracens all the way on home turf last time out. The Blues ran out victors against Lyon when they met in Round 2 in a 30-21 victory away from home as Gareth Anscombe picked up a grand 20 points in the outing. Racing 92 v Scarlets (Saturday January 19 15:15, Paris La Defense Arena) Scarlets may not be advancing through to the quarter-finals, but they can still play a significant part in aiding fellow Guinness PRO14 side Ulster’s progression in the competition. Victory for Scarlets would hand Ulster the initiative to top the group, but undoubtedly Wayne Pivac will be keen to end their Champions Cup campaign on a high in Paris. The two teams met on the opening weekend where Racing played out narrow 14-13 victors as a last gasp penalty try swung the tie the way of the Frenchmen. Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby (Saturday January 19 15:15, Welford Road) Ulster are hotly tipped to progress through to the quarter-finals as one of the three best placed runners-up, but they still have plenty of work to do to ensure a spot in the next round. Dan McFarland’s men can still top Pool 4 as they sit just three points behind Racing 92 in the table, but they are relying on Scarlets beating the Frenchmen and Ulster earning a win themselves to go through as table toppers. Ulster claimed the spoils at the Kingspan in Round 1 with a 24-10 victory as John Cooney’s inspired second-half display earned a convincing win against the two-time champions. Munster Rugby v Exeter Chiefs (Saturday January 19 17:30, Thomond Park) The standout game of the weekend sees the top two in Pool 2 go head to head in a winner takes all showdown in Limerick as Munster vie to secure their place in the last eight. Munster have a four-point lead over Exeter and need just one point to progress into the quarter-finals, but it will be no easy feat holding out the Premiership Rugby leaders. The two sides couldn’t be separated when they met earlier this campaign as they played out a 10-10 draw at Sandy Park as a CJ Stander try ensured that the points were shared. If Munster were to lose and fail to pick up a solitary bonus point, their progression into the next round wouldn’t be guaranteed with only the three runners-up with the best points heading through. Wasps v Leinster (Sunday January 20 15:15, Ricoh Arena) Defending champions Leinster put in the hard miles to leapfrog Toulouse in the standings with a hard-fought 29-13 victory against the Frenchmen in Round 5, but they must win against Wasps to ensure they stay top of the pile in Pool 1. Leo Cullen’s men need just two points to clinch a spot in the quarter-finals and the odds will be with them to get the better of Wasps after blowing away the English side in Round 1. On the opening night of the competition, Leinster ran in eight tries against Dai Young’s side, including both Luke McGrath and James Lowe scoring two tries. Wasps are yet to earn a victory in this year’s competition – earning just one draw against Bath Rugby.
